New characters come alive in McDaniel College theatre’s performance of “A Christmas Carol” at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 17, 18, and 19, and 2 p.m. Nov 19 in Alumni Hall Mainstage. There will be additional performances at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 15, 16, and 17, and 2 p.m. Dec. 17 at the Carroll Arts Center in Westminster.

Along with students from the College, many local children will perform the classic tale of Ebenezer Scrooge, a man who hates Christmas. On the eve of the holiday, the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future visit him in order to teach him a lesson that changes the way he feels about Christmas and the world around him.

Theatre Arts Professor Ira Domser added new characters to the adaptation, including two comic gravediggers, a preacher who recites Mark Twain’s “The War Prayer,” and four “air sprites,” who come alive to torment and tickle Scrooge toward salvation.

“I wanted to relate classic themes of ‘A Christmas Carol’ to our own troubled times,” said Domser.

The cast includes McDaniel College Students Jessica Behar ’07, Joe Byrd ’09, Meghan Carlton ’08, Tony Cimino ’07, Kacey Decker ’09, Chris DeRose ’07, Allison Dower ’07, Jeff Goeller ’06, Amber Grimes ’06, Lindsey Grieb ’07, MaxJulian Ham ’07, Davalas Henry ’07, Lauren Hild ’09, Maggie Ross ’07, Tom Shortridge ’07.

Local children cast in the production include Lydia Ausherman, Myra Ausherman, Shawn Bentz, Cyrus Daroowala, Megan Dietz, Grace Heilman, Matthew Ingram, Nasja Wickerhauser, and Irene Yingling.

Tickets for all performances cost $7 for adults, $5 for seniors and students. For ticket information about the November performances at McDaniel College, call the box office at 410-857-2448. For ticket information about December’s performances, contact the Carroll Arts Center at 410-848-7272.